Ekiti 2026: INEC Officials Arrive Early as Governorship Election Begins
Officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission arrived at several polling units across Ado Ekiti early on Saturday, fully equipped with both sensitive and non sensitive election materials as voting got underway in the 2026 governorship election.
At Ward 8, Unit 9, and Ado Okesa Ward, election officials were already at their duty posts by 7 a.m., making final preparations before accreditation and voting commenced.
Before the exercise began, presiding officers displayed the ballot papers, empty ballot boxes and the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System, also known as BVAS. Voters were equally taken through the voting process to ensure they understood the procedure before casting their ballots.
Voting officially started at about 8:30 a.m., with residents forming orderly queues while accreditation began without disruption.
The BVAS device processed the first two voters in roughly 10 seconds each, indicating a smooth and efficient start to the exercise at the polling unit.
The governorship election is taking place across all 16 local government areas of Ekiti State, with the Independent National Electoral Commission coordinating the process.
Several political parties are participating in the contest, including the All Progressives Congress candidate and incumbent governor, Biodun Oyebanji. Other candidates include Oluwole Oluyede of the Peoples Democratic Party, Oluwadare Bejide of the African Democratic Congress, Opeyemi Falegan of the Accord Party, Oyebanji Olajuyin of the Labour Party, Blessing Abegunde of the New Nigeria Peoples Party, Bidemi Awogbemi of the Action Peoples Party and Ayodeji Ojo of the Action Democratic Party.
Also in the race are Samuel Akande of the African Action Congress, Olaniyi Ayodele of the Peoples Redemption Party, Victor Adetunji of the Zenith Labour Party, Olu Omotoso of the Action Alliance, Joseph Anifowose of the Allied Peoples Movement and Ayodele Osinkolu of the Young Progressive Party.
Reports that political observers are keeping a close watch on the election, with many describing it as an important indicator of the political mood in Ekiti State ahead of future electoral contests.
